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The road leading to the practice facility the Netherlands is using for its World Cup base camp was supposed to be welcoming, with those Dutch “welkom” signs that make one of the world’s best teams feel at home.
Even the street name Teal Rising Way, a tribute to the Kansas City Current, the National Women’s Soccer League franchise whose facilities the Dutch use, has been temporarily changed to “Oranje Rising Way” for the next six weeks in honor of the team’s orange colors.
But maybe someone should have reconsidered the white signs marking important World Cup milestones for the Netherlands.
Each of them is a reminder that the country has not yet won the tournament.
“How far can we go? Yes, hopefully until the end,” said defender Virgil van Dijk, who will be participating in his second World Cup and will once again captain the Dutch team when the group match against Japan begins on Sunday in Dallas.
“We know how difficult it will be,” acknowledged the Liverpool player after a recent training session held under a relentless Midwestern sun, which pushed the heat index up to triple digits. “But our focus will be fully on Japan, first and foremost. That will get all our attention. We won’t look too far into the future. But we all have big dreams and we will give it everything we have.”
The Dutch have reached three World Cup finals but have yet to win it all
The Dutch have long had the unpleasant nickname of being the best country to never win the World Cup trophy. In fact, it is the only nation that has reached three finals without winning.
In 1974, the Netherlands had returned to the World Cup after a drought of almost four decades, and Johan Cruyff’s dazzling play had taken them to the final. There, the Dutch faced hosts West Germany and their star player, Franz Beckenbauer. The Netherlands quickly scored from the penalty spot, but West Germany responded with two goals before halftime, and the Dutch were unable to find the back of the net in the second half before a crowd of more than 78,000 at Munich’s Olympiastadion.
It was disappointing, no doubt, but ask any Dutch fan and they’ll tell you that 1978 hurt even more.
Once again facing the host country in the final, Argentina led 1-0 at half-time before Dick Nanninga equalized in the 82nd minute. The match remained tied in extra time, when Mario Kempes scored his second goal of the game for the host Argentines, and Daniel Bertoni added another for good measure before a boisterous crowd at the River Plate stadium in Buenos Aires.
The Dutch reached their third final in 2010, when they faced Spain for the title in Johannesburg, South Africa. That match was also decided in extra time after the teams reached a stalemate, with a goal from Andrés Iniesta in the 116th minute.
Good results in some recent World Cups give the Dutch reasons to believe
The Netherlands reached the semi-finals in 2014 before inexplicably failing to qualify in 2018. But they returned for 2022 in Qatar with van Dijk at the helm. The Dutch made it through the group stage by conceding just one goal, then dominated the United States in the round of 16 before losing to eventual champion Argentina on penalty kicks in the quarterfinals.
But if we take away the penalty shootout, the Dutch are undefeated in their last 12 games in the World Cup. The only nation with a longer streak is Brazil, which trailed Pelé’s brilliant play by 13 consecutive games between 1958 and 1966.
“I think we have a great group of players, especially human beings. We get along very well with each other,” van Dijk said. “But obviously it’s all about results. It’s about performance. All the players who are here, especially over the years, are players who have played at the highest level, experiencing incredible things in their careers. Winning trophies. Playing for the biggest clubs.
“They’re rallying here and trying to make their country proud. It’s the most important thing you can do.”
Although the Dutch are the favorites to exit their group, the road to the knockout rounds will not be easy. The trio of Japan, Sweden and Tunisia represent a tough series of matches, and coach Ronald Koeman’s team has battled injuries; Defender Jurrien Timber has already left due to a groin injury and goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen is recovering from a recent hip injury.
It is unclear if Verbruggen will play on Sunday against Japan.
“We know that Japan is strong. We have analyzed the team and the players,” Koeman said. “We talk about their system, where they normally play and the physical condition of their players. It’s difficult, but we believe in ourselves. We respect Japan, but we are Holland and they will respect us. I think it will be an interesting and difficult match.”
Associated Press information.
